APOF ORGANIC CERTIFICATION AGENCY
#126, 1st Floor, Govindappa Road, Off DVG Road, Gandhi Bazar, Basavanagudi,
Bangalore – 560 004, Phone: 080-2667 7275/ 4120 3848,
E-mail : aocabanglaore@yahoo.co.in, ceo@aoca.in, web: www.aoca.in
AOCA CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE OF CROP PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND
HANDLING
About AOCA
Initial
application
Registration in
Tracenet
Pre-inspection
procedure
Calculation of
Inspection fee
ICS (grower
group) entry
in Tracenet
Inspection
Balance
payment
The Apof Organic Certifying Agency (AOCA) was formed in 2005 in order to
provide Organic Certification as per Standards based on National Standards for
Organic Production (NSOP). AOCA has been accredited by Government of India
through APEDA (accreditation No. NPOP/NAB/012/10.01.2007)
 The applicant sends a written request to AOCA. On receipt of the request,
AOCA will send the following to the applicant.
1. Application form
2. Registration form for Tracenet
3. NSOP standards
4. AOCA Certification Procedure
5. Crop Production Plan Form
 The applicant submits the completed application for initiating work leading to
possible Certification.
Registration of the ICS group or individual farm or processing unit or trading or
approval for input is done on Tracenet.
On receipt of completed form AOCA will verify whether information given is
adequate to take up certification work. If the information is sufficient the operator
will be advised on the estimate of cost for inspection and certification.
The cost of inspection depends on size of farm, number of days required to
complete the inspection, location of the unit, travel time to reach the farm/
processing unit, train/bus fare, boarding and lodging during inspection etc. The
cost of inspection will be worked out on the above basis and sent to the operator
for acceptance. 70% of the estimated cost shall be paid in advance to AOCA by DD
/ Cheque payable at Bangalore.
The ICS should enter following details about the farmer group:
 List of farmers in the group with father’s name, village, taluk, district, organic
area, GPS data of organic area, date of registration in the group, crops grown,
yield estimate. Date of internal inspections, Internal Inspector’s name and NCs
observed during internal inspection.
After consulting with the operator, AOCA fixes the date and time for inspection.
Before the start of the inspection the operator will be required to sign a contract
with AOCA. The AOCA inspector will be inspecting according to the principles
laid out for the inspector. The operator will assist and cooperate with the inspector
as declared in the inspection and certification contract. The inspector shall take
samples of soil or produce from the field and send it for residue analysis of
pesticides, heavy metals and bio-contaminants if any. The inspector completes the
inspection checklists/report during the inspection. The operator acknowledges the
same. The original inspection report will be forwarded to AOCA for taking up
further certification process.
After the completion of the inspection the total inspection cost are finalized and an
invoice is sent to the operator. Analysis cost of samples will also be added to the
invoice. The operator will settle the balance invoice amount in full by DD to
AOCA.
Tracenet Entry
Certification
Decision on
Certification
Generation of
Certificate in
Tracenet
Renewal of
Certificates
Appeals and
handling
complaints
Handling
Complaints
Standards
NCs observed by AOCA Inspector shall be entered in Tracenet with dead line for
completion of the work in case of minor NCs.
An Evaluator will review the inspection report and will submit the certification
report to the certification committee. Should there be a requirement for additional
documents a communication will be sent to the operator in this regard.
On the basis of available documents the certification committee will take the
certification decision. Certification decision will be intimated to the operator.
Reduction in conversion period : As per NSOP Standards
The farm has to undergo conversion period for 36 months from the date of first
inspection by AOCA for perennial crops and 24 months for annual crops for
getting organic certification. If the operator has been practicing organic farming
for a long time he may apply for reduction in conversion period before making
certification decision. This requires proof of organic management of the farm for
several years. For this a declaration must be obtained from an independent and
competent source who has no personal relations with the operator such as :
 State or Central government officer (equivalent to Agri officer or of higher
grade) involved in agriculture OR
 A renowned organic farmer in the locality OR
 A reputed NGO in the field of agriculture/ sustainable/ social development
Apart from the above declaration there should be records available with the
operator to prove organic management of the facility (farm diary, organic input
purchase records etc.).
A soil test will be carried out to find out any chemical residues in the soil.
After the Certification decision is made, the Certificate will be generated through
Tracenet and forwarded to the party.
AOCA will inform the operators about the annual inspection for renewal of the
certificate one month in advance. The operator shall take necessary action to
renew the certificate every year by paying the renewal fee.
In case the operator is not agreeable to the certification decision the operator can
request for reconsideration of the decision through a letter. Such a request will be
sent to the certification committee for reconsideration. If the operator is still not in
agreement with the revised decision he can appeal to the appeals committee with
in thirty days of the letter informing certification decision. The committee will take
final decision on the merits of the case.
Operators can write to AOCA if there are any complaints against AOCA staff, the
AOCA certification system or other operators certified by AOCA. Such complaints
will be handled confidentially.
An electronic version of NPOP Standards can be downloaded from
www.apeda.gov.in